If you were looking for the WNBA Finals 2024 date, you likely noticed the schedule was a bit of a whirlwind. It wasn't just a series of games. It was a cultural shift. Honestly, the 2024 season felt like the year the world finally caught up to what women's basketball fans have known for decades: this league is electric.
The New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx didn't just play a series; they staged an intervention for anyone still sleeping on the "W."
The Official WNBA Finals 2024 Date Breakdown
The series kicked off on Thursday, October 10, 2024. It was a best-of-five format—the last one we’ll see before the league moves to a best-of-seven in 2025. This wasn't a quick sweep. It went the distance. The final buzzer didn't sound on the season until Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Here is how that ten-day stretch actually looked:
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- Game 1: Thursday, Oct. 10 at Barclays Center. Minnesota stunned New York in an OT thriller, winning 95-93.
- Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 13 in Brooklyn. The Liberty bounced back, 80-66.
- Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 16. The series moved to the Target Center in Minneapolis. Sabrina Ionescu hit a logo three that basically broke the internet, giving New York an 80-77 win.
- Game 4: Friday, Oct. 18. Minnesota refused to die at home, squeaking out an 82-80 win to force the decider.
- Game 5: Sunday, Oct. 20. Back to Brooklyn. Another overtime. New York finally secured its first title in franchise history, 67-62.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2024 Schedule
Some fans thought the schedule felt "short." They’re not entirely wrong. Because of the Olympic break in Paris, the WNBA had to compress the regular season and the playoffs into a tighter window. Players were exhausted.
Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart were coming off gold medal runs and then immediately dove into a 40-game regular season. By the time that WNBA Finals 2024 date of October 20 rolled around, these athletes were playing on pure adrenaline.
Wait. Why does the date matter so much now?
Because it set records.
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Game 5 drew 2.15 million viewers on ESPN. That is a massive number. It peaked at over 3 million. This happened while it was competing directly against Sunday Night Football and the MLB playoffs. People chose the W. That's the real story behind those dates on the calendar.
The New York Liberty's 28-Year Wait
New York is one of the original franchises from 1997. They had been to the Finals five times before 2024. They lost every single time. The "Liberty Curse" was a very real conversation in sports bars across Brooklyn.
When Jonquel Jones—who ended up being the Finals MVP—stepped onto the court for Game 5, the tension in Barclays Center was thick. You could literally feel the anxiety of nearly three decades of "almost."
Jones was the anchor. While stars like Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart struggled with their shooting (they combined for 5-of-34 from the field in Game 5—yikes), Jones was efficient. She put up 17 points and 6 rebounds in the clincher. She was the reason New York fans weren't crying into their overpriced arena nachos that night.
Why the Minnesota Lynx Deserve More Credit
It’s easy to focus on the winner. But Cheryl Reeve’s Minnesota team was incredible. They were the lower seed but played like they owned the court.
Courtney Williams was a spark plug. Kayla McBride was a flamethrower. They were down 15 points in the final five minutes of Game 1 and somehow won. That doesn't happen. It shouldn't happen. But it did.
The Lynx were just a few controversial whistles away from their fifth title. Coach Reeve was vocal about the officiating after Game 5, especially regarding the foul that sent Breanna Stewart to the line to tie the game in regulation. Regardless of where you stand on that call, the Lynx proved that the gap between the "Superteams" and the rest of the league has vanished.
Logistics and Viewing: How We Watched
The WNBA Finals 2024 date schedule was primarily handled by ESPN and ABC.
- TV Coverage: ESPN carried Games 1, 3, 4, and 5. ABC took Game 2.
- Attendance: Total attendance for the playoffs topped 260,000.
- Digital Impact: The "Sabrina Ionescu Shot" in Game 3 generated more social media engagement than almost any other moment in league history.
What Happens Next?
If you missed the 2024 Finals, don't worry. The league is expanding.
The Golden State Valkyries are joining soon. Toronto and Portland have teams on the way. The salary cap is expected to jump. But most importantly, the schedule is changing.
The 2025 Finals will be a best-of-seven series. No more "sprint to three wins." This gives teams more recovery time and gives fans more high-stakes basketball. The 2024 Finals was the perfect swan song for the old format.
Actionable Takeaways for WNBA Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for the next season, here is what you should do right now:
- Check the Expansion Draft details: The landscape of the league is shifting as new teams pick players from current rosters.
- Look at Season Ticket waitlists: Teams like the Liberty and Indiana Fever have seen waitlists explode. If you want to be in the building for the 2025 Finals, start looking at tickets in the spring.
- Follow the "Unrivaled" League: Many of these stars, including Stewart and Collier, are playing in a new 3x3 league during the winter. It’s the best way to keep up with the talent during the WNBA off-season.
The WNBA Finals 2024 date wasn't just a mark on a calendar. It was the moment the league proved it can draw millions of eyes, sell out massive arenas, and deliver the kind of drama that makes sports the best reality TV on earth.